Teens accused in food mart robbery

June 20, 2013

Five teenagers of which four were wearing masks and clothing over their faces to hide their identity have been arrested after they were accused of robbing the H&K Food Mart at 1490 Lee Blvd. at around 3:15 a.m. on June 12. The crime is a felony.

A store employee told investigators with the Lee County Sheriff's Office that the "unknown" young males came into the store while he was working and demanded cash and other things. Investigators said they also confronted a customer inside the store and demanded his money, too.

The robbers fled in a small silver vehicle.

Article Photos

Jason Acevedo

John Francisco

Norberto Gonzalez

Alexander Joassaint

Cole Wessel

But it didn't take deputies that long in finding a vehicle that fit that description on Homestead Rd. traveling south at a high rate of speed.

A traffic stop was attempted by officers but investigators said the driver of the car refused to stop.

Deputies then pursued the vehicle until it finally lost control at the intersection of East 5th St. and Glenn Ave. and crashed into a wooded area.

At that point, the occupants of the vehicle bailed and fled the scene and deputies rushed to the aid of a female who was pinned inside the vehicle, screaming for help.

Investigators said the deputies freed the injured female and provided first aid and then she was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released for minor injuries.

When deputies looked inside the crashed vehicle, they found cash, masks, gloves and a BB gun, items identified that had been stolen from the convenience store.

For several hours, deputies did an extensive canvas of the area using the K-9 unit on the ground and a helicopter in the sky.

According to a sheriff's report, they found five males hiding in the area. They were arrested due to the physical evidence found in their vehicle, officers said.

Charged with robbery without a firearm and wearing a mask during the commission of a felony were:

- Norberto Gonzalez, 17, of 629 South Summit Ave., Lehigh Acres.

- John Francisco, 17, of 2204 Brandon St., Fort Myers.

- Jason Acevedo, 16, of 735 SW 6th St., Cape Coral.

- Cole Wessel, 16, of 3020 Sunset Rd., Fort Myers.

- Alexander Joassaint, 17, of 3404 SW 41st St., Lehigh Acres, who was charged with robbery without a firearm only.